title: Chlorhexidine droplet splash from a skin preparation gallipot: effect of height of pouring.
abstract: Chlorhexidine contamination of equipment used in central neuraxial anaesthesia has been implicated in causing adhesive arachnoiditis. We measured the extent of chlorhexidine splash during pouring into a gallipot (antiseptic skin preparation container) from heights of 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm. Twenty experiments were performed at each height. Measurements made up to a horizontal distance of 40 cm radius from the gallipot showed a median (IQR [range]) maximum spread of splash droplets ≥ 2 mm diameter of 26.2 (10.2-36.4 [0-40]) cm. The 40-cm radius measurement area was divided into 5-cm-wide zones to assess spread. At pouring heights of 15 cm and 20 cm, all zones were contaminated. These results demonstrate that pouring chlorhexidine into a gallipot generates significant splash, and we recommend that this should be avoided near equipment used for neuraxial anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Chelmsford, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tilakaratna
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine